Age-related storage of iron in the liver of horses

The non-haem iron concentration was estimated in post-mortem liver samples from 51 horses (age range 1–25 years). Two were normal and 49 had been suffering from conditions that were not expected to have had long-term effects on iron metabolism. Muscle samples (splenius and biceps femoris) from 23 of these horses were also analysed. There was a highly significant age-related increase in the non-haem iron concentration in the liver (r=0.635,p<0.001), but not in the muscles, in which the iron concentration was much lower than in the liver.Abbreviations A(535) absorbance at 535 nm - Asc ascorbic acid - BPS bathophenanthroline sulphonate, sodium salt - NaAc sodium acetate - TCA trichloracetic acid - TIBC total iron-binding capacityDr W.N.M. Ramsay, BSc, PhD: It is deeply regretted that Dr Ramsay died following the preparation of this paper. All correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to Professor M.M.H. Sewell at the above address.